Solution mixing and dispensing apparatus



I United States Patent [72] Inventor Harry W. Johnson 3,056,577 10/196'2Kulisek 239/602UX 156 W. Washington St., West Chicago, 3,056,709 10/1962Rising 239/602UX 60185 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

1968 Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar

[45] Patente Nov. 1970 Attorney Olson, Trexler, Wolters and BushnellABSTRACT: Apparatus for dispensing soap solution, etc., from a showerhead or the like, comprising a valve mechanism [54] AND DISPENSING whichincludes a metallic valve stem having in one end thereof 7 claims, 7Drawing Figs a pair of spaced-apart ports. Each of the ports 18provided, both at the inlet and outlet end thereof, with acircumferential UoSe groove diminishes in and circumferentially 222/193;308/238 digresses from the ends of the ports in a predetermined In.direction therefron- A resilient plastic sleeve mounted in a ofSearch .1plined valve opening in the housing of the device 3 193i 308/238receives therein the ported end of the valve stem, so that apertures inthe sleeve are in alignment with the ports. The rota- [56] ReferencesCited tion of the valve stem causes the ports or associated grooves to NED TA PATENTS communicate with the apertures in the sleeve, thereby de-2,591,364 4/1952 Kurth 239/317 pending upon the relation therebetween toaccurately and 2,594,476 4/1952 Miller.... 239/318X minutely vary themixing and dispensing of the amount of soap 3,052,417 9/1962 Daniel239/310X solution with the main water supply for the shower.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 0 65 five/2E d4. Jorzaam SOLUTION MIXING ANDDISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to adapter devices for mixing and dispensing liquids fromshower heads, etc., and more particularly to valve assemblies for suchadapter devices,

Prior art devices or adapters for mixing soaps, oils, etc., with wateremanating from a shower head or the like apparatus require complicatedor expensive valve mechanisms which, for the most part, are notsatisfactorily operable to mix and dispense minutely and accuratelydesired amounts of the above-mentioned liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of thepresent invention to provide a new and improved adapter device formixing a first liquid, such as, for example, soap, etc., with anotherliquid, such as water from a supply, to be dispensed from a shower heador the like.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a new andimproved valve mechanism for a device of the abovedescribed type whichprovides for accurate control of a volume of liquid mixed with waterfrom said supply.

It is another object of this invention to provide a valve mechanism ofthe above-described type which is simple and inexpensive to produce andwhich is efficient and reliable in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the presentinvention and its organization and construction may be had by referringto the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a shower head arrangement and asolution mixing adapter device connected thereto according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged crosssectional view of the adapter device of FIG.1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter device of FIG. 2 takenalong the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter device of FIG. 2 takenalong the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main components of a valve mechanismof the adapter device of FIGS. l4, shown in an unassembled condition;and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of a valve mechanism shown in afully opened and a partially opened position, respectively, according tothe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings more in detail, FIG.1 thereof illustrates a shower head arrangement or system 10 comprisinga water supply outlet 12 and a shower head 14 normally connecteddirectly thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, an adapter device 16 for mixingliquids with the water from outlet 12 and dispensing the mixture via theshower head, has been interposed between the shower spray head 14 andthe water outlet pipe I2 according to the invention.

Briefly, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the adapter device 16 includes avalve assembly 18, a selector knob 20 and a container or receptacle 22in which soap, oil, etc., to be mixed with the water from the supply, isstored.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-4, there is shown therein, in greater detail, thevalve assembly 18 of the adapter device 16 according to the invention.

The valve assembly 18 includes a housing 24 having an inlet 26 and anoutlet 28; outlet 28 being connected to the shower head 14 and inlet 26being connected to the water supply pipe I2. To facilitate thelast-mentioned connections, the outer portion 28 of the outlet isthreaded and is received in the shower head 14 which includes acooperatively threaded end. The inlet 26 is threaded internally andreceives an externally threaded pipe 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inlet 26 of the valve assembly has adiameter size larger than that of the outlet 28, and the two areinterconnected within the housing 24 by means of a narrow tubularportion 30 which defines a shoulder like formation 31, and through whichthe main stream of water from outlet 12 flows. In addition, a separate,smaller diameter tubular opening 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is provided withinhousing 24 and communicates with inlet 26. A second, separate tubularopening 34, having a diameter equal to that of the opening 32, is alsoprovided within housing 24 and communicates with opening 32 to providean outlet therefrom to a chamber or port 36 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Openings 32and 34 are, as shown in the FIGS., at right angles to each other. Thechamber 36 is internally threaded and includes an open end 37. Receivedin open end 37 is the threaded neck 38 of the container 22 in whichsoap, oil, etc., is stored. Mounted within container 22 is a centrallylocated tube 42. When container 22 is received in chamber 36 throughopen end 37 thereof, the central tube 42 is axially aligned andcommunicates with still another tubular opening 44 in housing 24 whichin turn extends toward and communicates with outlet 28.

Intersecting openings 34 and 44 is an aperture or valve opening 40 whichextends substantially at right angles to the openings 34 and 44 andcommunicates therewith. Mounted in aperture 44 is a valve mechanism 46according to the invention.

The above-mentioned valve mechanism 46 is shown in FIG. 5 in anunassembled condition and will now be discussed in greater detail. Thevalve mechanism comprises a metallic valve stem 48 which is elongated,solid and cylindrically shaped, and includes a first end 52 and a secondend 54, with a circumferential recess 56 interposed therebetween, End 52also includes a pair of predeterminately spaced-apart ports 58 and 60extending diametrically therethrough. Each of the ports is provided atthe inlet and outlet thereof with a circumferential groove 62 and 64,respectively, extending from a side thereof; the grooves diminish indepth and circumferentially digress from respective ends of the ports ina predetermined direction about end 52. The port and groove arrangementsmake it possible, as will be explained. in greater detail hereinafter,to minutely control the volumetric displacement of the contents of thecontainer 22 into the discharge or outlet side 28 of the valve housing24.

The valve mechanism 46 also includes a circular, cylindrically shapedsleeve 50 of a resilient plastic material, preferably ofpolytetrafluoroethylene, commercially known as Teflon. The length of thesleeve, as shown in FIG. 5, is approximately equal to the length of theend 52 of the valve stem, and the inner diameter of the sleeve issubstantially equal to the outer diameter of end 52 of the valve stem.Because of the resilient quality of plastic, especiallypolytetrafluoroethylene, the sleeve may be forced tightly over the valvestem, in telescopic relation therewith, without impairing the subsequentrotation of the valve stem therein. A pair of apertures 66 and 68 extendthrough sleeve 50 and are spaced from each other a distance equal to thedistance between ports 58 and 60 of the valve stem so as to be alignedtherewith on end 52 of the valve stem in sleeve 50. 4

Referring to FIG. 2, the elements discussed above are shown in anassembled condition within valve opening 40 in housing 24. It will benoted that narrow tubular openings 34 and 44 are spaced from each othera distance equal to the distance between the ports 58 and 60 in end 52of the valve stem 48.

The inner walls of valve opening 40 in housing 24 includes small splines70 formed thereabout. The splines 70 may be formed by driving a splinedtool into the aperture 40 after the latter has been formed in housing24, or by any other suitable method. Thus, as the plastic sleeve 50 isinserted into the aperture 40, the outer surface of the former isgrooved by the splines (FIG. 5) to positively prevent the rotationthereof with respect to the valve housing, and the sleeve is compressedslightly so that the inner diameter thereof is reduced correspondingly.The sleeve is inserted into aperture 40 so that apertures 66 and 68thereof are aligned with tubular openings 34 and 44, respectively. Oncethe sleeve is secured within the aperture 40, end 52 of the valve stem48 may be inserted thereinto, ports 58 and 60 thereof being in alignmentwith apertures 66 and 68 of sleeve 50. Because of the reduction indiameter of the sleeve, a slight force must be used to insert the valvestem thereinto. This provides a relatively tight fit between the valvestem and the sleeve, thereby to aid in the prevention of leakage of thevalve mechanism.

A split ring 72 is provided in recess 56 of the valve stem to furthersecure the plastic sleeve within aperture 40, as well as to prevent theinsertion of valve stem 48 too deeply into the sleeve, thus to insuregood alignment of the respective apertures and ports therein,respectively. Because valve opening 40 is deeper than the length of end52 of the valve stem, recess 56 and a portion of end 54 of the valvestem also extend thereinto. A rubber O-ring 74 is placed over the end 54ofthe valve stem within aperture 40, sealing the valve stem therein,thereby to prevent leakage, and a ring 41 is inserted thereafter.

End 54 ofthe valve stem, near the extreme free end thereof, as shown inFIG. 2, includes a flat side 76 for mounting a spring-loaded knobthereon. The knob 20 includes a directional pointer 78 to indicate thecondition (i.e., on or off) of the valve mechanism.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of theinvention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description ofthe mode in which the component parts thus far described cooperate.

To begin, container 22 of the adapter device 16 is filled with an oil,soap, etc., which is to be mixed and dispensed with water from supply12. The container 22 is screwed into threaded chamber 36 at neck 38thereof, central tube 42 of the container being aligned with tubularopening 44 and tubular opening 34 communicating directly with thecontainer 22, as shown in FIG. 2.

The water from supply 12, being turned on to a desired flow rate andtemperature, knob 20 ofthe device 16 is turned from an off" to an on"position. as indicated by pointer 78. Turning knob 20 rotates valve stem48 within plastic sleeve 50, mounted in valve opening 40, from aposition wherein the ports 58 and 60 of valve stem 48 are completely outof alignment with apertures 66 and 68 in sleeve 50, and with tubularopenings 44 and 34, respectively, to a position whereby thelast-mentioned ports are in direct alignment with the tubular openings,as shown in FIG. 6, or in alignment with respective grooves 62 and 64.such as, for example, as shown in FIG. 7.

When the valve stem is turned from the off to an on" position, some ofthe water from supply 12 flowing into inlet 26 of valve housing 24,which, prior to the positioning of the knob flowed only through tubularportion and to outlet 28, now is diverted through smaller tubularopening 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4). From tubular opening 32 the diverted waterflows into opening 34 and into container 22. The pressure of the waterflowing into the container causes a quantity of the soap, etc., withincontainer 22 to be forced from the bottom thereof upwardly intocentrally located tube 42 and into the tubular opening 44. The soapsolution flows through the valve mechanism 46 via port 66 to be mixedwith the main stream of water flowing from tubular portion 30 intooutlet 28.

Because of the novel grooves 62 and 64 provided both at the inlet andoutlet sides of ports 58 and 60, the amount of water diverted intocontainer 22, and the amount of solution forced outwardly therefrom intotube 42, may be minutely regulated. This can be seen in FIG. 7, whereinthe shallow ends of grooves 62 are shown in alignment with apertures 66extending through sleeve 50 surrounding end 52 on the valve stem. Withthe valve stem as shown, only a very small volume of solution flowsthrough the valve mechanism 46. As the valve stem is turned through notmore than 90, degrees, a deeper portion of the grooves becomes alignedwith aperture 66 and opening 44 to vary the volume of fluid passingtherethrough. Thereby, the volumetric displacement of the contents ofthe container into the outlet 28 may be minutely and accuratelycontrolled.

Thus, the mixing and dispensing adapter device, including a valveassembly according to the invention, provides an accurate, reliable,easily controlled apparatus for use with shower heads, or other spray orliquid flow type devices, such as, for example, apparatus forperiodically delivering chemicals into a swimming pool, etc.

While a particular embodiment and use of the invention has been shownand described, it should be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto since many modifications may be made. It is thereforecontemplated to cover by the present application any and all suchmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a shower head for the mixing of a liquidsolution with the water being sprayed from said shower head, saidapparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet insubstantial alignment for permitting the passage of water therethrough,a port for connection to said housing, a container having said liquidsolution therein, said port being disposed transversely of said alignedinlet and outlet, and a pair of channels formed in said housing, onesaid channel connecting said inlet to the container port and the othersaid channel connecting the outlet to said container port; a containerconnected to said port and having a central tube in communication withsaid other channel; and valve means disposed transversely of saidchannels intermediate the ends thereof for controlling and regulatingthe dispensing of said liquid solution from the container, said valvemeans comprising a valve stem rotatably mounted to said housing andhaving a pair of parallel transverse passages formed therein, whichpassages are adapted to be aligned with said channels such that aportion of the water passing from said inlet to said outlet may bediverted to said container prior to its entering said outlet, said valvestem including, adjacent each port and communicating therewith, at boththe inlet and outlet ends thereof, a circumferential groove, each saidgroove being of a predetermined length and diminishing in depth in acircumferential direction away from said port, whereby upon the rotationof said stem, the relative alignments of said ports and associatedgrooves with respect to said channels are varied to control the amountof liquid solution being introduced into the water passing through saidhousing.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes anarrow tubular portion interconnecting said inlet and said outlet toprovide an annular shoulder like formation, and said channel whichcommunicates with said inlet including a segment thereof formed in saidshoulder like formation and extending parallel to the axis of saidinlet.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve mechanism furtherincludes a sleeve member mounted within said housing, said sleeve memberhaving a pair of apertures extending therethrough and being aligned withrespective ones of said channel means, and wherein one end of said valvestem including said ports and grooves is inserted into said sleevemember for rotation therein, said ports and respective grooves of saidvalve stem, and said apertures in said sleeve member assuming apredetermined relation with respect to each other to permit the flow ofsaid liquids therethrough, in accordance with the positioning of saidone end of said valve stem with respect to said first and second channelmeans.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said housing includes,interposed in said first and second channel means, a circularcylindrieally-shaped opening having a plurality of splines formed aboutthe wall thereof, wherein said sleeve member is of a resilient plasticmaterial and is mounted in said splined opening and is prevented frommoving rotatably therein by said splines, and wherein said one end ofsaid valve stem has a circular cylindrical shape with a diametersubstantially equal to the inside diameter of said sleeve member and isrotatably mounted in said sleeve member.

5. In combination, a pressurized water supply, a shower head connectedto said water supply for dispensing water therefrom, a container ofliquid additive interposed between said shower head and said supply anda valve assembly for accurately mixing a desired amount of said liquidadditive from said container with said water from said supply to bedispensed from said shower head with said water, said valve assemblycomprising; a housing including an inlet, an outlet, a passagewayinterconnecting said inlet and outlet, said inlet coupled to said watersupply, said outlet coupled to said shower head and said passagewaypassing a main stream of water from said supply to said shower head; afirst separate tubular opening within said housing extending from saidinlet to said container; :1 second separate tubular opening within saidhousing extending from said container to said outlet; a valve openingextending into said housing and communicating with both said first andsecond tubular openings; and a valve mechanism for controlling theamount of liquid additive mixed with said water from said supply, saidvalve mechanism including; a sleeve member mounted within said valveopening and including a pair of apertures extending therethrough, saidapertures being aligned with said first and second tubular openings,respectively; a valve stem, a first end of which is rotatably mountedwithin said sleeve member and includes a pair of ports extendingtherethrough, said ports being aligned with respective ones of said pairof apertures in said sleeve member, the inlet and outlet ends of each ofsaid ports including a groove extending from a predetermined depth andlength, a second end of said valve stem extending outwardly from saidhousing and a control member mounted on said second end of said valvestem for rotating said first end of said valve stem within said sleevemember, thereby, according to a corresponding alignment of said portsand associated grooves with said respective apertures in said sleevemember, to vary the amount of water diverted through said first tubularopening to said container and the amount of liquid additive deliveredfrom said container to said outlet to be mixed with the main stream ofwater and dispensed from said shower head therewith.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said grooves extendingfrom said ports each diminish in depth as they circumferentially digressfrom a respective end of said corresponding port.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said valve openingincludes, about the wall thereof, a plurality of splines extendinginwardly into said opening, and wherein said sleeve member is of aresilient plastic material so that upon the mounting of said sleevemember within said opening said splines engage said sleeve member toprevent rotation of the latter within said opening.

